Acharacle

Castle Tioram

Acharacle is a widely dispersed settlement that serves as the main centre for a huge area of Moidart and Ardnamurchan. It lies at the southern end of Loch Shiel which, after extending all the way from Glenfinnan, fails by just a couple of miles to reach the sea. The name comes from the Gaelic Ath Thorguil or Torquil's ford, following a battle in 1120 at a nearby ford across the river Shiel between the Celtic-Norse warrior Somerled and the Norse invader Torquil. Torquil was killed in the battle and his followers ousted from the area.

Acharacle from the Pier Acharacle Church Loch Shiel at Acharacle

Acharacle today lies on a loop of road that extends from the Corran Ferry to the east through Strontian and Salen. This route was first built in the early 1800s by Thomas Telford, who also built a bridge across the River Shiel just north of Acharacle. Today's Shiel Bridge dates from the 1930s. Though difficult to believe, the road that continues north to meet the Fort William to Mallaig road at Lochailort and complete the loop was only finished in the 1960s.

Kentra Bay Jetty

Monster Midge

With the arrival of the West Highland Railway in Glenfinnan in 1901, the easiest way to Acharacle became via the steamers that plied Loch Shiel to carry passengers and mail. These had, sadly, ceased to operate by 1960, though cruises on Loch Shiel are still run from the Glenfinnan House Hotel in Summer. For further information see Loch Shiel Cruises own website.

In the 1200s a small tidal island in the mouth of Loch Moidart became the site of Castle Tioram. This was later modified to provide a home for Amy MacRuari, the ex-wife of John, Lord of the Isles, when he divorced her to allow him to marry the daughter of Robert II. Much of what you see today dates back to this time. In later life Castle Tioram was the main fortress of the MacDonalds of Clan Ranald.

The fortunes of war and history were not always kind to Castle Tioram. It was attacked during a clan dispute in 1554; and captured by Cromwell in 1651. In 1715 it was burned by the Jacobites to prevent it being used by Government forces (see our Historical Timeline).

You can reach Castle Tioram via a minor road that starts just north of Shiel Bridge, then walk along the beach and across a natural causeway to the island on which it stands. Sadly, though, the castle is in a very poor condition and has been closed to visitors. Today there are signs on the causeway warning visitors that much of the island is dangerous because of the risk of falling masonry. There are proposals in the wings to restore Castle Tioram to its earlier glory, but these are caught up in a major planning dispute: and meantime the structure continues to crumble.

Another minor road north, this time from near the church in Acharacle, takes you to Kentra Bay. At the far end of this is the tiny village of Ardtoe. Since 1975 this had been the home of an important fisheries research unit. Here they study shellfish cultivation and work out how best to farm halibut. On the road into Ardtoe you can see the biggest midge in Scotland, where someone has entertainingly decorated a large roadside boulder.